The Scanadu can read your vitals in 10 seconds, measuring heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, ECG, and emotional stress. You hold it to your forehead and the information is wirelessly transmitted to your smartphone. It works on iOS and Android devices.

Founder and CEO Walter De Brouwer explained the Scanadu Scout is not just for doctors. He’s looking to enable patients with an informative, easy-to-use device so they can play a larger role in the healing process.

“People need something cool, that they immediately understand and that they can have a relationship with their doctor.” De Brouwer joked, “We don’t want to make something just for retired engineers with a chronic disease.”

The device has 106 unique components, including an infrared thermometer, three accelerometers, and a microphone. De Brouwer says doctors and patients would use the same device, but the doctor version of the app would have more detailed information. He claims their algorithms are 95 percent accurate.

Nearly a steal at $199, especially when you consider how many unnecessary doctor’s visits it might help worried parents (not that I know anything about that) avoid.

I remember when instant thermometers came out at a hundred bucks or more, in unadjusted ’90s dollars — and folks snapped them up. Scanadu doesn’t ship until March of next year, but I might be one of the first in line to pick one up.